Police escort, not bandits, responsible for my sister’s death – Taraba gov

Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has broken his silence regarding the tragic death of his sister, Atsi Kefas, who was earlier believed to have been killed by bandits along the Wukari-Chinkai highway in 2024.

Speaking during a media briefing in Jalingo, the state capital, the governor clarified that findings from an investigation pointed to a police escort — attached to his mother’s security detail — as the person who fatally shot Atsi while they were en route from Jalingo to Abuja.

“Life is very precious to me. You can’t just end someone’s life and think God will be happy with you. My younger sister was shot and killed by a police escort who was inside the same bus with her,” Kefas said during the interaction.

He emphasized that contrary to initial reports of a bandit ambush, forensic analysis confirmed the presence of gun pellets in her body, indicating a close-range shooting.

“Investigation revealed that my sister Atsi was shot at a close range. The policeman is still under investigation so that justice should prevail,” he added.

Many residents had assumed that Atsi and the governor’s mother were victims of a botched kidnapping attempt. The governor’s clarification has since dispelled those claims.

During the briefing, Kefas also paused to honour the memory of Atsi and over 50 victims recently killed in violent attacks in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area. He urged Taraba citizens to renounce violence and foster unity.

He further announced plans to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the Karim-Lamido conflict and recommend steps toward lasting peace.

The Taraba State Police Command had yet to issue a formal response to the governor’s allegations at the time of this report.